JPS63143441A - Device for detecting position of human body for use in air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the comfortableness for a human body during the air conditioning by providing in the detector direction detecting means for detecting the direction of the position of person, distance detecting means for detecting the distance and computing means for computing and outputting the positional data of the person based on a detection signal from the detection means. CONSTITUTION:The detection signals emitted from a person detection sensor 10 and a ultrasonic sensor 11 are inputted into a computing device 30 which is means for computing. When a signal detecting a person's body within the room is inputted from the person detection sensor 10 into the computing device 30, a horizontal distance (l) from the mounting wall surface of an air conditioner main body 1 to the person is computed based on the distance data of the ultrasonic sensor 11 and the detection angle data from a motor controller 31 controlling step motors 14 and 15 for scanning the detection regions of respective sensors 10 and 11, and the thus computed distance lis inputted as person's positional data into a flap deflection angle controller 32. In the flap deflection angle controller 32 a flap deflection angle imparting comfortableness to the person based on the person's body position data is determined, and it is outputted to a motor controller 33.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) This invention relates to a human body position detection device, and in particular, detects the position of a person indoors in order to further improve the comfort of an air-conditioned space. For example, the present invention relates to a human body position detection device for an air conditioner that is attached to an air conditioner that has a function of automatically changing the blowing direction of air.

(Prior Art) A specific example of a device that detects the position of a person in a room and automatically changes the blowing direction of air is the device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-38778.

FIG. 13 shows an indoor layout of the device. As shown in the figure, the floor-standing air conditioner main body 50 has a detection device 51,52 on the front side consisting of a photoelectric switch and a floodlight.
．． 53 are attached to the main body 50 according to the direction of light emitted from each of the detection devices 51, 52, and 53.
Reflective plates 54, 55, and 56 are disposed on the front and left and right walls, respectively. Therefore each sensing device 51.5
When the light traveling back and forth between 2.53 and the reflector 54, 55, 56 is blocked, it is determined that there is a person in the blocked direction, and for example, the Suita wind blowing direction from the main body 50 is changed to that direction. The system automatically changes directions other than the direction to prevent discomfort caused by the blowing air directly hitting the human body.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, when blowing air is performed while avoiding the direction where people are, as in the conventional device described above, the feeling of heating is also impaired at the same time, for example, when heating a room.

In this case, the blowing direction should be in the direction where the person is, and the blowing should be directed towards the person's feet, and the hot air should be directed toward the person's body with the velocity weakened on the floor to the extent that the airflow is not felt. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the discomfort caused by being directly exposed to the wind at a high flow rate as described above, and to provide a more effective feeling of heating. For this purpose, it is necessary to detect the direction in which the person is located as well as the distance to the person's feet as position information of the human body, but the above-mentioned detection device can only detect the direction in which the person is located. Therefore, it has not been possible to control the blowing direction so as to further improve heating comfort as described above.

This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to be able to provide more detailed human body position information such as the direction and distance in which a person is located indoors; An object of the present invention is to provide a human body position detection device for an air conditioner that can further improve comfort during air conditioning.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Therefore, the human body position detecting device for an air conditioner according to the present invention is a human body position detecting device A attached to the air conditioner main body 1, and the human body position detecting device A is attached to the main body 1 of the air conditioner. a direction detecting means 16 for detecting the direction of the person; a distance detecting means 11 for detecting the distance from the main body 1 to the person whose direction has been detected; and each of the above-mentioned detecting means 16.
．． 11, and calculation means 30 for calculating and outputting the position information of the person based on the detection signal detected in step 11.

(Function) In the human body position detection device for air conditioners with the above configuration,
If this device is attached to the main body of the floor-standing air conditioner like the conventional device, for example, the position information of the feet of a person in the room is determined by the detected angle in the horizontal direction by the direction detecting means 16 and the distance detecting means. 11. Furthermore, if the air conditioner main body l is installed at a high place on the wall of the room, the detection direction will also change in the vertical direction depending on the distance from the main body of the place where the person is located, and for example, the direction detection means 16
The vertical detection angle and the distance information from the main body 1 by the distance detection means 11 can be obtained as different values depending on whether the detection point of the human body is the head or the tip of the foot. However, in such a case, accurate positional information of the person's feet can be provided by converting the above distance information into, for example, the horizontal distance from the main body mounting wall surface to the human body by the calculation means 30.

(Example) Next, a specific example of the human body position detection device for an air conditioner according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the air conditioner main body 1 installed on a wall. Inside the main body 1, an indoor heat exchanger 2 and a blower fan 3 are arranged, and the front of the main body 1 is shown. Indoor air is sucked in from the suction grill 4 formed in the
Cold air or hot air at a predetermined temperature is blown out from a blow-off grille 5 formed at the lower part of the front side. A horizontal deflection plate, that is, a horizontal flap 6, and a vertical direction deflection plate, that is, a vertical flap 7, are arranged on the above-mentioned blowout grille 5 for controlling the direction of the blowing air. Each of these flaps 6.7 is configured to automatically control the deflection angle, as will be described later. A human detection sensor 10 is provided at one side end of the upper front side of the main body 1.
An air conditioner human body position detection device A having an ultrasonic sensor 11 serving as distance detection means is attached.

The human detection sensor IO is composed of a pyroelectric infrared sensor, and receives infrared rays equivalent to body temperature emitted from a human body, and when the intensity changes within a preset detection area. It is designed to respond to
Thereby, the presence of a person within the detection area can be detected.

On the other hand, the ultrasonic sensor 11 has an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver, and emits ultrasonic waves in the direction of approximately the center of the detection area of the human detection sensor 10, and the reflected waves reflected from objects in that direction return. The distance from the ultrasonic sensor 11 to the object is detected based on the time it takes for the object to arrive.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a human body position detection device A for an air conditioner that includes the human detection sensor 10 and the ultrasonic sensor 11. As shown in the figure, the sensor box 12 containing the human detection sensor 10 and the ultrasonic sensor 11 can be controlled to rotate vertically and horizontally by two step motors 14 and 15 for scanning the detection area. It is configured as follows.

Next, we will discuss the detection of the human body position when the air conditioner main body 1 to which the air conditioner human body position detection device A as described above is attached is installed at a high place on a wall, for example, as shown in FIG. To explain, each step motor 14, 15 is driven to sequentially change the detection direction of the human detection sensor 10,
It moves and scans the detection area on the indoor floor. When there is a person in the room as shown in FIG. 3, when the head of the human body enters the detection area of the human detection sensor 10 during the scanning process, the human detection sensor 10 senses the human body. A detection signal is generated. Each step motor 1 at this time
The horizontal angle θ1 and vertical angle θ2 of the detection direction are respectively given by the rotation control angle of 4.15, and these directional angles θ1 and θ2 are stored as detection direction information. Therefore, the human body position direction detection means 16 is constituted by the human detection sensor 10 and each step motor 14,15. Further, at this time, the distance to the head of the person is also determined by the ultrasonic sensor 11 at the same time. From the above θl, θ2, and L, for example, the horizontal distance l from the wall where the air conditioner body 1 is attached to the person's position is j? It can be easily obtained by calculating =L-cosθ1 1cosθ2.

The above explanation is for the case where a person's head is detected, but even when the human detection sensor 10 senses bare feet, the calculation result of the distance Nl from the wall surface to the person's position is given as the same value as above, and therefore To accurately obtain positional information of a person on a floor surface, regardless of whether the person is standing or sitting, as the positional information of the feet.

Next, a method of controlling the air outlet temperature using the air conditioner human body position detection device A to improve comfort during heating will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the horizontal flap 6 and the vertical flap 7 of the air conditioner body 1 described above are connected to the first step motor 20, and the vertical flap 7 to the second step motor 20.
are connected to the step motors 21 of the main body 1 via link mechanisms, and the directions of the flaps 6.7 are changed by controlling the rotation of the step motors 20.21, so that the blowing direction of the air from the main body 1 can be set as desired. It is possible to set the direction.

Figures 5 and 6 show each of the above flaps 6.7 during heating operation.
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram and flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 5, detection signals from the human detection sensor 10 and the ultrasonic sensor 11 are input to a calculation device 30 which is calculation means. In this calculation device 30, when a detection signal of a human body in the room is inputted from the human detection sensor 10, the distance information of the ultrasonic sensor 11 and the step motor 14.15 for scanning the detection area of each of the sensors 10.11 are input. Based on the detected angle information from the motor control device 31 that controls the air conditioner body 1, the horizontal distance l from the mounting wall surface of the air conditioner main body 1 to the person is calculated, and the flap deflection angle control device 32 calculates the horizontal distance l from the mounting wall surface of the air conditioner main body 1 to the person.
Enter. The flap deflection angle control device 32 determines a flap deflection angle that gives a comfortable feeling to the person based on the human body position information, and outputs this to the motor control device 33. The horizontal flap 6 and the vertical flap 7 are then set to the above deflection angle by the step motor 20.21. Note that when the temperature of the outlet air detected by the outlet temperature sensor 35 attached to the air conditioner body 1 is lower than a preset temperature, the flap angle is adjusted based on the detected temperature as described later. Control is performed using a set angle, and for this purpose, a comparator 36 for comparing the detected temperatures is connected to the flap deflection angle control device 32. This flap deflection angle control method will be explained in more detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When heating operation is started, flap control is first performed at startup based on the blowout temperature (Step 7 Sl). In this control, the horizontal flap 6 and the vertical flap 7 are set to initial setting angles. At this time, in particular, the horizontal flap 6 is set at a horizontal position, that is, at a deflection angle of 0°. As a result, the cold air blown through the indoor heat exchanger 2, which is in a low temperature state immediately after the start of operation, is blown overhead, so that people do not feel the cold air. Then, when the Suita temperature reaches the set temperature, for example 38℃, move the horizontal flan pro to the vertical position.
In other words, the deflection angle is set to 90" and the air is blown in the direction directly below, and after 2 minutes in this state, the air is blown out at a set angle (for example, 70°) towards the central area of the room. After the start-up control described above is completed. , the process moves to step S2, and after confirming that the temperature state of the blowing temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature, the process moves to step S3.

In the control process described below, for example, when the indoor thermostat is turned off and the device is stopped, and then the device is restarted with the indoor thermostat 〇N signal, if the initial blowout temperature is low, The process returns from step S2 to step S1, and the flap deflection angle control according to the above-mentioned blowout temperature is performed.

In step S3, the presence or absence of a detection signal from the human detection sensor 10 which is sequentially scanning the room by driving the scanning step motors 14 and 15 is determined, and if no human is detected, steps S2 and S3 are repeated. The flap deflection angle at that time is maintained, and the human detection sensor 1
The scanning of the detection area of 0 continues. And step S
If a human body detection signal is generated in step S4,
At that time, the horizontal angle θ1 and vertical angle θ2 of the detection direction are detected from the respective scanning step motors 14 and 150 rotation control angles, and the distance between the ultrasonic sensor 11 and the person is further detected in step S5. do. Next, in step S6, as described above, the horizontal distance l between the wall surface on which the air conditioner main body 1 is attached and the person is calculated from θ1 and θ2. In step S7, the deflection angle of each flap is determined based on the above 2 and θ1. The vertical flap 7 is approximately the same as θ1.
On the other hand, the deflection angle θ3 of the horizontal flap 6 is determined based on appropriate flap angle data previously obtained through experiments as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the calculation result l and the appropriate control angle θ3 of the horizontal flap 6 to send warm air gently without giving a feeling of air current. Further, FIG. 8 shows that when the rotational speed of the blower fan 3 is further changed from the above relationship, that is, when the air volume set in the air conditioner body l is large, N (), when it is medium (M),
It is a graph giving the appropriate control angle θ3 of the horizontal flap 6 in each case of small (L). As shown in the same graph, even when there are many people in the same position, when the air volume is large,
The horizontal flap angle θ3 is thicker than when the air volume is small (therefore, the air is blown more toward the front of the feet).

In step S7 each flap 6.70 mm as described above.
Appropriate deflection angles θ1 and θ3 are determined, and in step S8, each flap 6.7 is driven and controlled according to the angles θ1 and θ3. Then, the process returns to step S2 again and the flap control based on the second person detection information is continued. Therefore, for example, even when a person moves indoors, the flap control follows the movement of the person, making it possible to provide air conditioning with improved comfort.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for controlling the horizontal flap 6 by applying the human body position detection device for an air conditioner according to the present invention during cooling operation.

Conventionally, for example, in air conditioners that are installed high on a wall,
During cooling operation, the horizontal flap 6 is fixed in a horizontal position so that the cold air blown from the air conditioner main body 1 is blown over the heads of the occupants.

Cold air circulates from overhead to the floor by natural convection, so
By setting the blowing direction as described above, it is possible to provide a feeling of cool air due to convection without giving the occupants the discomfort of direct wind blowing. However, if the room temperature is high when starting the cooling operation, restarting the indoor thermostat by the ON signal, or when outside air enters the room by opening and closing the room door, the system will wait for natural convection as described above. There was a problem in that it was not possible to provide instant cooling response to residents by using only air conditioners.

When the room temperature is high as described above, even if cold air is blown out from the air conditioner body when the air is blown directly at the occupants, the blown air is heated through heat exchange with the high temperature indoor air. Since the temperature rises, the occupants do not feel an excessively cold breeze; on the contrary, the airflow at that time can provide a moderate feeling of cold wind. Therefore, horizontal flap control as shown in FIG. 9 is performed.

In FIG. 9, step S1 is a step of initially setting the horizontal flap 6 to a horizontal position, and then step S
In step 2, the desired room temperature setting by the resident is compared with the actual room temperature at that time, and it is determined whether the difference is within a predetermined temperature difference. If the room temperature is higher than the set temperature by more than the above temperature difference, the process moves to step S3, and the position of the occupant in the room is detected by the human body position detection device A described above. Based on the detection result, in this case, for example, based on the above-mentioned position information up to the foot, a horizontal flap setting angle is calculated so that the blowout is directed slightly above the foot, and in step S4, the set angle is adjusted to the above-mentioned setting angle. The deflection angle of the horizontal flap 6 is changed. As a result, the blown air hits the human body directly, and the airflow sensation at that time can provide an appropriate cooling sensation even when the room temperature is high. After step S4 is executed, the process returns to step S2, and the above-described control is repeated. Therefore, even when the occupant moves, the deflection angle of the horizontal flap 6 is automatically changed to follow the movement. I have to go. If the room temperature approaches the desired set temperature during the above control process, step S2 to step S1
Return to , and change the horizontal flap 6 to the horizontal position. After that, step S1 and step S2 are repeated, and the horizontal flap 6
In addition to maintaining the indoor temperature horizontally, the rise in indoor temperature is monitored when the indoor thermostat is turned on or when the door is opened/closed, and if there is a rise in temperature, the deflection angle of the horizontal flap 6 described above is automatically controlled. It is done.

Note that FIGS. 10 to 12 show the flap control target positions in the case where a plurality of people are detected in the room in each of the above applied embodiments. This is done by dividing the room into multiple areas, and pre-setting areas (areas marked with ★) that can provide more comfort for each person based on the relative positional relationship of each area where people are detected. The above-mentioned flap control is performed for or on the assumption that a person is present at that location. For example, in Figure 10(a) to tta, the room is 6
Figures 11 (a) to (el) show the control target positions when two people are detected, and when three people are detected. 4 to 5 people. In this case, the location where many people are gathered is set as the control target position, and furthermore, when there are people in the entire area or when there is no one, the position shown in FIG. 12 is set as the control target position.

As explained above, in the human body position detection device for air conditioners of the present invention, the position of a person is automatically detected as more accurate information including distance as well as direction. This allows for more delicate control, further improving occupant comfort.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the human body position detection device for an air conditioner of the present invention allows accurate information on the position of the feet indoors, for example. (It enables air conditioning operation with improved comfort. Also, in air conditioners that have a switching function that blows cold air directly toward the human body during cooling operation, it is possible to accurately detect the position of the human body, so there is no error.) It is possible to configure an air conditioner that further improves air conditioning comfort, such as by automatically setting the blowing direction and by making it possible to blow air that follows the movement of a person even when the person is moving.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a human body position detection device for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the air conditioner body to which the above device is attached, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the above device. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of horizontal and vertical flaps, and Figs. 5 to 8 show flap control using the human body position detection device for an air conditioner according to the present invention. Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram when performing the control program.
Figure 7 is a control flowchart, Figures 7 and 8 are
The figure is a graph showing the relationship between the human body position and the appropriate horizontal flap angle, and Figure 9 is a control flow chart showing another application example.
Figures 10(al~(el) and Figures 11(a1~(el) is a schematic plan view of the interior showing the position of the flap control object when there are multiple people in the room, and Figure 12 is a similar schematic diagram when there is no one in the room. , FIG. 13 is a schematic indoor plan view showing a human body position detection method in a conventional device. A...Human body position detection device, ■... Air conditioner main body,
11... Ultrasonic sensor (distance detection means), 16...
Direction detection means, 30... Arithmetic device (arithmetic means).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A human body position detection device (A) attached to the air conditioner main body (1), which includes a direction detection means (16) for detecting the direction in which a person is located in the room, and a person whose direction is detected. distance detection means (1) for detecting the distance from the main body (1) of the
1) and a calculation means (30) for calculating and outputting the position information of a person based on the detection signals detected by each of the detection means (16) and (11). Human body position detection device.